Kuwait Facts:
GEOGRAPHY
Area 17,818 sq.km. An oil-rich wedge of desert between Iraq and Saudi Arabia at the northwest end of the Arabian Gulf.
Population Ann.Gr. Density
2000 1,971,634 +3.14% 111 per sq. km.
2010 2,419,713 +1.85% 136 per sq. km.
2025 2,974,454 +1.12% 167 per sq. km.
The fluctuating expatriate community dramatically affects the size and composition of the population.
Capital Kuwait 1,300,000. Urbanites 97%.
PEOPLES
Arab 68%.
Kuwaiti 37%.
Foreign Arab 24.6% (Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian).
Bidoun 6.4%. Stateless Arab refugees.
Non-Arab 32%. Filipino, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Western, several others.
Literacy 79%. Official language Arabic. All languages 3. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 1por 1w.i.p.
ECONOMY
The massive capital and petroleum reserves of this oil rich state were seriously damaged by the Iraqi invasion and Gulf War in 1990-91, but due to generous aid/loans, the oil is again being pumped out to the permitted OPEC limits. Warning signs: the budget deficit is ballooning, and 83% of the workforce is foreign. HDI 0.833; 35th/174. Public debt n/a. Income/person $20,470 (65% of USA).
POLITICS
Former British protectorate; became independent in 1961. Constitutional monarchy, but with the Amir and his family exercising quasi-autocratic control. Stuttering democratic progress since 1986. The 1990s were marked by politicized xenophobia due to the Iraqi invasion, suspicions of Kuwaiti-based Iraqi collaborators, and increasing Islamist agitation.
RELIGION
Sunni Islam is the state religion with a large Shi’a minority. Immigrant religious minorities are permitted some worship facilities. Diverse Christian community in a relatively liberal Islamic regime. Proselytizing Muslims is forbidden. Persecution index 20th in the world.
Religions Population % Adherents
Muslim 87.43 1,723,800
Christian 8.17 161,082
Hindu 2.50 49,291
non-Religious/other 1.10 21,688
Baha'i 0.50 9,858
Buddhist 0.30 5,915
Christians Denom. Affil.% ,000
Protestant 30 0.46 9
Independent 15 0.25 5
Anglican 1 0.01 0
Catholic 2 3.91 77
Orthodox 5 3.54 70
Churches Cong. Members Affiliates
Catholic 8 46,584 75,000
Coptic Orthodox 6 31,579 60,000
National Evang [15] 3 1,250 5,000
Independent [15] 28 2,778 5,000
Armenian Apostolic 1 2,564 4,000
Greek Orthodox 1 2,244 3,500
Syrian Orthodox 2 1,366 2,200
Mar Thoma Syrian 2 1,242 2,000
Melkite Greek Catholic 1 1,111 2,000
Pentecostal Churches 6 974 1,500
Other denoms [16] 11 689 1,231
Total Christians [54] 69 92,381 161,431
INTERNET LINKS
CIA World Factbook (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ku.html)
Country profile, with only very brief information on religion or society.
Brief, largely statistical information on geography, people, government, economy, and more.
Global Harvest Ministries - Kuwait (http://www.globalharvestministries.org/home.qry?ID=667)
A great resource of articles, history, maps, ministry networks, and news.
World Skip - Kuwait (http://www.worldskip.com/region.asp?PartnerID=&RegionID=kw)
News, information, products and services from every nation on earth.
Web Pages In and About Kuwait (www.kuwait.net/kuwait.html)
A simple, limited Web guide.
Kuwait Pictures (www.kuwaitpictures.com)
A collection of photos. Captions in 4 languages.
Area 17,818 sq.km. An oil-rich wedge of desert between Iraq and Saudi Arabia at the northwest end of the Arabian Gulf.
Population Ann.Gr. Density
2000 1,971,634 +3.14% 111 per sq. km.
2010 2,419,713 +1.85% 136 per sq. km.
2025 2,974,454 +1.12% 167 per sq. km.
The fluctuating expatriate community dramatically affects the size and composition of the population.
Capital Kuwait 1,300,000. Urbanites 97%.
PEOPLES
Arab 68%.
Kuwaiti 37%.
Foreign Arab 24.6% (Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian).
Bidoun 6.4%. Stateless Arab refugees.
Non-Arab 32%. Filipino, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Western, several others.
Literacy 79%. Official language Arabic. All languages 3. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 1por 1w.i.p.
ECONOMY
The massive capital and petroleum reserves of this oil rich state were seriously damaged by the Iraqi invasion and Gulf War in 1990-91, but due to generous aid/loans, the oil is again being pumped out to the permitted OPEC limits. Warning signs: the budget deficit is ballooning, and 83% of the workforce is foreign. HDI 0.833; 35th/174. Public debt n/a. Income/person $20,470 (65% of USA).
POLITICS
Former British protectorate; became independent in 1961. Constitutional monarchy, but with the Amir and his family exercising quasi-autocratic control. Stuttering democratic progress since 1986. The 1990s were marked by politicized xenophobia due to the Iraqi invasion, suspicions of Kuwaiti-based Iraqi collaborators, and increasing Islamist agitation.
RELIGION
Sunni Islam is the state religion with a large Shi’a minority. Immigrant religious minorities are permitted some worship facilities. Diverse Christian community in a relatively liberal Islamic regime. Proselytizing Muslims is forbidden. Persecution index 20th in the world.
Religions Population % Adherents
Muslim 87.43 1,723,800
Christian 8.17 161,082
Hindu 2.50 49,291
non-Religious/other 1.10 21,688
Baha'i 0.50 9,858
Buddhist 0.30 5,915
Christians Denom. Affil.% ,000
Protestant 30 0.46 9
Independent 15 0.25 5
Anglican 1 0.01 0
Catholic 2 3.91 77
Orthodox 5 3.54 70
Churches Cong. Members Affiliates
Catholic 8 46,584 75,000
Coptic Orthodox 6 31,579 60,000
National Evang [15] 3 1,250 5,000
Independent [15] 28 2,778 5,000
Armenian Apostolic 1 2,564 4,000
Greek Orthodox 1 2,244 3,500
Syrian Orthodox 2 1,366 2,200
Mar Thoma Syrian 2 1,242 2,000
Melkite Greek Catholic 1 1,111 2,000
Pentecostal Churches 6 974 1,500
Other denoms [16] 11 689 1,231
Total Christians [54] 69 92,381 161,431
INTERNET LINKS
CIA World Factbook (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ku.html)
Country profile, with only very brief information on religion or society.
Brief, largely statistical information on geography, people, government, economy, and more.
Global Harvest Ministries - Kuwait (http://www.globalharvestministries.org/home.qry?ID=667)
A great resource of articles, history, maps, ministry networks, and news.
World Skip - Kuwait (http://www.worldskip.com/region.asp?PartnerID=&RegionID=kw)
News, information, products and services from every nation on earth.
Web Pages In and About Kuwait (www.kuwait.net/kuwait.html)
A simple, limited Web guide.
Kuwait Pictures (www.kuwaitpictures.com)
A collection of photos. Captions in 4 languages.
SELECT FLAG: